The Centre had earlier opposed the ban, saying there was a “misconception” that only diesel pollutes the environment.

A bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar dismissed government’s plea on the ground that the Supreme Court has also junked a similar plea.

Last year, taking note of the "environmental emergency" caused by one of the worst stretches of air pollution in Delhi, the tribunal had ordered govt. to deregister diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR which were more than 10-year-old.